Ian Huntley Attacked in Notorious 'Monster Mansion' Prison
Ian Huntley, the convicted killer of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, was found in a pool of blood this morning after a violent assault inside HMP Frankland in County Durham. The 52-year-old, serving two life sentences for the 2002 Soham murders, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following the incident at around 9am.
The 'Monster Mansion': Home to Britain's Most Notorious Criminals
HMP Frankland, nicknamed the 'Monster Mansion' due to its high concentration of convicted murderers and high-risk sex offenders, is a maximum-security prison that opened in 1983. It houses approximately 800 male prisoners over the age of 21, typically serving sentences of four years or more, including many lifers. The facility has been home to some of the country's most infamous criminals, such as serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, Manchester arena terrorist plotter Hashem Abedi, and killer-rapist police officer Wayne Couzens.
A source described the scene inside the jail as "absolute chaos", expressing shock that Huntley, who is usually "really closely protected", could be targeted so severely. "I'm amazed someone was able to get anywhere near him because he is usually really closely protected. They must have timed it when he wasn't with prison officers and must have used a weapon to injure him so severely," the source told The Sun.
Police Investigation and Prison Conditions
Durham Constabulary confirmed they were alerted to the assault and have launched an investigation. "A male prisoner suffered serious injuries during the incident and was transported to hospital. A police investigation is now under way into the circumstances of the incident and detectives are liaising with staff at the prison," a spokesman said.
Inmates at HMP Frankland are housed in individual cells equipped with a TV, washbasin, and toilet. As incentives for good behaviour, prisoners may receive games consoles and DVD players. Earlier this year, Huntley had his Xbox confiscated as punishment for disciplinary breaches and possession of contraband, including DVDs, USB sticks, and magazines. Following the infraction, he was moved to a wing typically reserved for older inmates, which an insider said made him the "butt of a load of jokes" due to his perceived arrogance.
Background: The Soham Murders and Huntley's Sentence
Ian Huntley was working as a school caretaker in Soham, Cambridgeshire, when 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared in August 2002. Their bodies were discovered two weeks later near RAF Lakenheath, with the cause of death ruled as asphyxiation. Huntley, who had given media interviews during the search, was later convicted of both murders in December 2003.
In 2005, a High Court judge set Huntley's minimum term at 40 years, meaning he would not be eligible for parole until 2042, when he would be 68. The judge stated, "The order I make offers little or no hope of the defendant's eventual release." Other notorious inmates at HMP Frankland have included serial killer Levi Bellfield, Lee Rigby's killer Michael Adebolajo, and nail bomber David Copeland, underscoring the prison's role in housing high-profile criminals.
